Newcastle United have been tracking Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe for a while, but the club will be favouring loan deals in the January window.

The Athletic report that Newcastle United have tracked Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe long term, along with a number of other attacking players.

Newcastle reportedly intend to be active in the January transfer window, but they’re favouring loan moves.

Options or obligations to buy may be included, but the club are also open to straight loans for short-term cover.

This isn’t the first that we’ve heard of Newcastle interest in Smith Rowe, but the links were previously played down by David Ornstein – also of The Athletic.

Ornstein reported in October that he isn’t aware of Newcastle pursuing the Arsenal man, and he didn’t know of any contact between the parties involved.

He added that it’s not clear where the player would fit in the Newcastle team unless someone leaves.

Smith Rowe was also linked with West Ham United around the same time, and one report put Aston Villa in the race as well.

The 23-year-old then suffered an injury keeping him out for the entirety of November and the start of December as well, which probably cooled any genuine interest in him.

But he’s back on the pitch again now, just in term for the January transfer rumours to start up again.